The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day

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Chapter: With what should prayer at night begin?

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باب بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ تُسْتَفْتَحُ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ

Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said:

"I asked 'Aishah: 'With what did the Prophet (ﷺ) start his prayer?' She said: 'When he got up to pray at night he would start his prayer with the words: Allahumma Rabba Jibril wa Maika'il wa Israfil; Fatirus-samawati wal-ard, 'alim al-ghaybi wash-shahadah, anta tahkumu bayna 'ibadika fima kanu fihi yakhtalifun, Allahumma ihdini limakktulifa fihi min al-haqq innaka tahdi man tasha'ila siratin mustaqim (O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning wherein they differ. O Allah, guide me to the disputed matters of truth for You are the One Who guides to the Straight Path)."